Statistics is a collection of methods for observing and analyzing numerical data in order to make sensible decisions about them. In this course the basic ideas of the analysis of data and of statistical inference will be introduced. Little mathematical background is required; high school algebra is sufficient. Mathematical proofs will be minimal; reasoning and explanations will be based mostly on intuition, verbal arguments, figures, or numerical examples. Some computing will be required.

Students who have taken MATH 2560 will normally take MATH 2570 in the second semester. Students who require only 3 credits of statistics may wish to consider one of MATH 1131 or MATH 1532 (or even MATH 2565) instead.

Instructor: Hanna Jankowski
E-mail: hkj[at]mathstat.yorku.ca
Please include "[2560]" in the subject of your e-mail. Also, plain text messages only, no html.
Office: N621B Ross
Office hours: T 5-6pm, or by appointment (until Dec.8th). No drop-ins, please.

[Course Syllabus]

IMPORTANT LINKS

• [Course Coverage] This file will specify what was actually covered in the class, and will also provide suggested exercises. It will be updated on a regular basis.
  • [Nov.3] Here (pages 417-419, 421-423) and here (page 420) is some additional reading for Chapter 3. The pages are out of order because I missed one when I first scanned them. The reading is from one of my favourite stats books. The portions I would like you to read are the five examples (from artery ligation to Red No.40), the blurb on randomization. These are some additional, very interesting, examples of experimental design (the surgery one I mentioned in class is in there!). Also, there is a discussion of the Berkeley graduate admission rates data that we looked at in class - this is 11.4.7. I've crossed out the other sections, since you should omit these, but the pen marks didn't scan very well.
  • [Oct.6] For the regression homework, I have added an Excel [file]. For the questions indicated, your answers should be based on the information given in these files only. All other calculations should be done by hand. The idea is that (a) we haven't officially learned how to do regression in Excel and (b) this is more like what you will see in your test. The different questions in the file are in different tabs (look at the bottom left-hand corner, and click on the appropriate one). If you have problems with the file, please let me know.
• [Discussion Board] This is a place where you can discuss homework problems etc. with the instructor or other students. You will need an AML account to access the forum.
• [Statistics Tutorial Lab] A place where you can go to get some extra help.
• [IPS] This is the website for our textbook. Among other things, you can find the data sets here (from the CD in the back of the text).